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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-538


USS LSM-538 was transferred to the Dominican Republic and named Antares (BA-105)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-538, 15 November 1945, LTjg. Francis T. Montague, USNR in command, succeeded by LTjg. Raymond A. Biswanger USNR
  • Decommissioned, 20 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred, 10 March 1958, to the Dominican Republic, named Antares (BA-105)
  • Final Disposition, decommissioned by Dominican Republic Navy, and, sold for scrapping in 1959
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" o.a.
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft, fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Complement 5 officers, 54 enlisted
    Armament one twin bow mounted 40mm gun, four single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Troop Capacity 2 officers, 46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Propulsion two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-538 75k LSM-538 with other LSMs nested at Annex 2, Little Creek, VA, early February 1946. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    LSM-538 68k LSM-538 with bow doors open and ramp down, at Annex 2, Little Creek, VA., early-February 1946. Note-This ship, which never saw enemy action, had armament which most combat LSMs wished they had, a twin-40mm. gun on the bow. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    LSM-538 68k LSM-538 and LSM-540 moored at Annex 2, Little Creek, VA. early-February 1946. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    LSM-538 55k LSM-538 moored pierside at Annex 2, Little Creek, VA. early-February 1946. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-538 66k LSM-538 moored pierside at Annex 2, Little Creek, VA. early-February 1946. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-538 63k LSM-538 in a column, following LSM-543 enroute from Little Creek, VA., to Green Cove Springs, FL., to begin the process of "mothballing" for possible future use. Ships are off Cape Hatteras, NC., 9 February 1946. Photo was taken from LSM-538 Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-538 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 3 September 2004